Compare towns
Brookfield vs Ware vs Hampden vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 52.4).
Ware has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Hampden has the highest household income ($105k).
Sheffield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Brookfield | Ware | Hampden | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,460 |
6,369Highest |
4,946 |
3,330Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
50.9±3.3 27% above MA |
48.2±8 21% above MA |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.8%±5.1 MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,250±$37k 22% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$104,536±$16kHighest about the MA average |
$92,120±$31k 11% below MA |
| Hampden and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$358,200±$16k 36% below MA |
$409,400±$32kHighest 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,132±$107 36% below MA |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
| Sheffield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,092 15% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$6,181Highest 3% above MA |
$4,520 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.9%±42.4 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.9%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #199 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookfield | — | Hampden-Wilbraham | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.